474 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 18, 1880. 
of bees on the following day, seem to have aronsed quite a large 
amount of interest, and promise to bear fruit in the near future.— 
William Raitt, Blairgowrie. 
PRODUCTS OF BAR-FRAME HIVES. 
I HAVE read with much pleasure your correspondent, Mr. J. 
Thomson’s, account of his honey harvest from a bar-frame hive, 
inasmuch as it gives interested, though yet unprejudiced, persons 
an opportunity of judging of the relative merits of the straw-step 
versus the bar-frame system of management in a similar district 
as to honey gathering, and evidently also under equally proficient 
handling. It is the first answer to Mr. Pettigrew’s challenge to 
“ the bar-frame hive gentlemen ” to “ send their reports,” and 
to my thinking is decidedly a point in favour of the latter. 
Mr. Thomson deducts weight of hives and fioox-boards, and his 
calculation is decidedly within the mark, as I have Pettigrew 
hives weighing 8 lbs., and not of the largest dimensions, yet he 
has deducted nothing for weight of bees, combs, pollen, See., 
which he should no doubt also do to be correct. We all know 
pretty well what the Pettigrew hive is ; but I daresay many of 
your readers, like myself, would be much obliged to Mr. Thomson 
if he would inform us the style of hive he manipulates. Is it the 
Stewarton or other frame hive ? and if so, what are the dimen¬ 
sions of the frame he uses, and how many frames per hive ? If 
other gentlemen giving us accounts of their results would kindly 
give us a few more details of this description, I think it would 
tend to the advancement of what we all have at heart—viz., 
successful apiculture. In your issue of the 4th inst. I note 
“ B. & W. ” is of opinion that frames of 14 by 9 would be a good 
size, those he has in present use (he does not give their dimen¬ 
sions) being too small. Now I have frames of 13 by 9, and I 
believe they would be better were they from 10 to 12 inches deep, 
as I find this season the brood confined to too small a space near 
the bottom in consequence of there being so much room occupied 
by honey and pollen in the top part; and as the queen seems to 
prefer to centralise the brood nest as much as possible, I think w e 
may adopt frames nearer the American pattern of 12 by 12 with 
advantage. Possibly some of your esteemed correspondents will 
kindly give us their ideas on this, as I think, rather important 
matter.—M. H. Matthews. 
ARTIFICIAL COMB FOUNDATIONS IN STRAW 
HIVES. 
Frequently I have been asked how these foundations could 
be fixed and used in straw hives. My reply has been, that the 
bar-frame or moveable comb hive affords greater facilities for the 
use of comb foundations than straw hives, but that if the founda¬ 
tions be proved to be of substantial advantage in apiculture, a 
successful way of using them in straw hives will be invented and 
adopted. Some time ago it struck me that by using wooden 
crowns in straw hives, and cutting out narrow slits from 8 to 
10 inches long, and at proper distances apart in them, the founda¬ 
tions could be easily dropped down through the slits, and securely 
fastened by drops of melted wax or wedges. This seems easy 
and simple enough. The cross-sticks, so necessary in large straw 
hives, should be fixed before the foundations are introduced, and 
fixed just low enough to admit the foundations without touching. 
The bees on commencing work would fasten them to the sticks, 
which would give strength and stability to the whole. Hives 
with large crown holes and wooden lids could be treated in the 
same way, the slits of course to be made through the lids. Wooden 
supers, too, could be filled or half filled with foundations dropped 
in through narrow slits in their crowns and fastened by drops of 
melted wax on the outside. Be it known that all this is sugges¬ 
tion, but suggestion so self-evident of a practical character that 
the merest novice in bee-keeping will lose sight and fear of the 
difficulties of introducing comb foundations in his hives and 
supers. As I am still of opinion that foundations will yet be 
found to be very useful and profitable in various departments of 
apiculture, I shall be pleased if all the schools give them a fair 
trial next season and record the results.—A. P. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Ducks (J. S. IT.).—Your Ducks are evidently cross-bred, probably between 
Rouen and Black East Indian. This cross produces black birds with white on 
their breast; had the cross been with Pekin they would have been half white. 
The birds you have, though of no use as exhibition Ducks, should be excellent 
for the table. The Black East Indian is in our opinion the best domestic Duck 
for eating, though small. 
Chickens not Thriving (P. S., Keighley ).—Your birds appear to b 
affected with catarrh. Keep them in a warm dry place, and wash their nostril 
with vinegar and water. A teaspoonful or two of castor oil, according to the 
age of the birds, may also be of benefit. They require, too, more generous food, 
such as oatmeal and bread mixed into the form of a dry paste with strong ale. 
For fattening feed them liberally with oatmeal or barleymeal mixed with 
milk ; a little of Spratt’s food and kitchen scraps will also be of service, with 
whole sound grain at night. 
Pullets Laying (D. A. T.). —Well-developed pullets now six months old 
ought to lay in January. We recommend stimulating food to hasten their 
laying, but should give it by adding to their ordinary meal a little pot liquor in 
which meat has been cooked, table scraps, stale bread with beer, all of which are 
natural and healthy helps. 
Parrots Falling from tlieir Perches ( B. C. IF.). —Your bird is suffering 
from vertigo and nervous weakness, which is the cause of its falling from the 
perch. Parrots are very liable to the said accident, which is encouraged and 
brought about through being kept in a somewhat confined and warm tempe¬ 
rature. When the fits occur give it a few drops of brandy and water. Give it a 
tepid bath two or three times a week. After the bathing and during the time 
the feathers are wet, spurt from your mouth a teaspoonful of brandy over the 
Parrot, after which throw a cloth over the cage and place it within 2 or 3 feet 
of the fire. When partly dry remove the cloth and hang the bird up. Accom¬ 
panied with sound food this will tend to strengthen the bird if it is not past 
recovery. If you give your Parrot much meat, partly discontinue it, for it 
produces laxity and weakness. Give bread soaked in milk, and a little ripe fruit 
occasionally. 
Bees not Taking Syrup (/. ./. Cresswell). —Your hive is doubtless a weak 
one, and the lateness of the season and coldness of the weather are against your 
efforts to make it stronger. Even strong hives are slow to take syrup in cold 
weather. Make your syrup sweet enough, and while it is warm sprinkle half a 
pint of it over the combs and bees of your hive, close the door to keep the bees 
in, then remove the hive to the side of the kitchen fire. As soon as the combs 
are dry give the bees another feed, and then another, till they have enough. 
The door of the hive of course should be closed while it is in the kitchen, nnd 
the examinations and sprinklings should be done in the garden where the bees 
stand. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
CAMDEN SQUARE, LONDON. 
Lat. 51°32' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
date. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
3 
*3 
1880. 
Nov. 
1 Barome- 
! ter at 32° 
1 and Sea 
1 Level 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
Direction 
of Wind. 
| Temp, of 
Soil at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
sun. 
On 
gn;ss. 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sun. 7 
30.25.5 
45.8 
43.9 
w. 
41.5 
52.8 
43.2 
73.2 
89.2 
0.170 
Mon. 8 
30.201 
43.9 
42.4 
N. 
43.2 
52.7 
43.1 
88.8 
39.7 
Tues. 9 
30.366 
32.2 
30.3 
N.W. 
42.0 
41.6 
28.2 
56.3 
25.4 
_ 
Wed. 10 
30.960 
43.8 
40.9 
N. 
41.4 
51.6 
31.6 
81.9 
29.6 
0.026 
Thurs. 11 
30.081 
49.5 ‘ 
48.9 
N.E. 
41.7 
52.4 
38.8 
63.9 
31.5 
0.059 
Friday 12 
29.93 5 
51.4 
50.3 
S.W. 
43.7 
56 0 
47.7 
69.6 
42.4 
0.010 
Satnr. is 
29.768 
55.3 
52.9 
w. 
45.3 
58.0 
49.9 
60.3 
45.3 
0.010 
Means. 
80.099 
46.0 
44.3 
42 7 
52.2 
40.4 
69.1 
36.2 
0.275 
REMARKS. 
7th.—Overcast except for short time at noon, slight shower 3.30 P.M. 
8 th.—Very fine with much bright sunshine. 
9th.—Fine bright morning ; overcast afternoon ; cold day. [and eveningi 
10th.—Fine with bright sunshine in forenoon ; slight fog latter part of afternoon 
11th.—Rain in morning ; damp overcast day. 
12th.—Rain first part of morning, clearing off at noon, fine and mild rest of the 
day ; lunar halo 9.15 P.M. 
13th.—Fair but damp, very windy. 
In spite of one cold day (the 9th) the weekly means of temperature are far 
above those of either of the three preceding weeks, and slightly above the 
average.—G. J. Symons. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET— NOVEMBER 17. 
TRADE remains practically the same as before. 
FRUIT. 
Apples. 
Apricots. 
Cherries. 
Chestnuts. 
Figs. 
Filberts. 
Cobs... 
Gooseberries .... 
Grapes . 
Lemons. 
s. d. s. d. 
} sieve 2 6 to 4 6 
box 0 0 0 0 
0 0 0 0 
bushel 12 o in o 
dozen 0 6 10 
Iftt. 16 18 
fll 1 6 18 
j sieve 0 0 0 0 
$> lb 2 0 4 0 
4fl00 12 0 18 0 
Melons . 
Nectarines. 
Oranges . 
Peaches . 
Pears,kitchen .. 
dessert . 
Pine Apples .... 
Plums . 
Walnuts . 
ditto .. 
s. d. s. d. 
each 2 0 to 4 o 
dozen 0 0 0 0 
P 100 0 0 0 0 
dozen 12 0 18 0 
dozen 00 00 
dozen 2 0 4 0 
If lb 3 0 4 0 
1 sieve 2 0 4 6 
bushel 0 0 0 0 
If 100 0 0 00 
Artichokes........ 
Asparagus. 
Beans.Kidney .... 
Beet, Red. dozen 10 2 0 
Broccoli. bundle 0 9 16 
Brussels Sprouts.. J sieve 19 2 3 
Cabbage. dozen 0 6 10 
Carrots. bunch 0 4 0 6 
Capsicums. ^ 100 1 0 2 0 
Cauliflowers. dozen 0 0 8 6 
Celery . bundle 16 2 0 
Coleworts_doz. bunches 2 0 4 0 
Cucumbers. each 0 4 0 6 
Endive. dozen 10 2 0 
Fennel. bunch 0 3 0 0 
Garlic . ^tb. 0 6 0 0 
Herbs . bunch o 2 0 0 
Leeks. bunch 0 3 0 4 
s. d. s. d. 
Mushrooms . dozen 1 otol 6 
Mustard* Cress .. punnet 0 2 0 3 
Onions. bushel 3 6 5 9 
pickling. quart 0 0 0 0 
Parsley. doz. bunches 6 0 0 0 
Parsnips. dozen 10 2 0 
Peas . quart 0 0 0 0 
Potatoes. bushel 3 9 4 0 
Kidney. bushel 4 0 4 6 
Radishes_ doz .bunches 16 2 0 
Rhubarb. bundle 0 4 0 0 
Salsafy. bundle 10 0 0 
Scorzhnera . bundle 16 0 0 
Seakale . basket 0 0 0 0 
Shallots . v ft. o 3 0 o 
Spinach . bushel 3 0 0 o 
Turnips. bunch 0 4 0 0 
Vegetable Mar OWS each 0 2 0 0 
VEGETABLES 
s. d. s. d. 
dozen 2 0to4 0 
bundle 0 0 0 0 
If lb. 0 0 06 
